Retainer insert for a valve having a floating closure member

Abstract

A valve comprising a valve body defining a flow path, a seat upon which a closure member may rest for blocking an outlet port of the valve body, and a spacer removably mounted in the valve body to provide at least one arresting surface against which the closure member may abut when displaced in an open position by fluid pressure. The spacer prevent the closure member from frictionally contacting the inner surfaces of the valve body.

It is claimed: 
     
       1. A valve for use with an engine comprising a valve body defining a flow path and a valve cavity comprising a seat upon which a floating closure member rests when fluid pressure on an upstream side of said closure member is less than an opening valve pressure of said valve thereby blocking an outlet port of said valve body, and retaining means removably mounted at one end of said valve cavity so as to provide ready access thereto, said retaining means defining at least one arresting surface against which said closure member will abut when displaced in an open position by fluid pressure, said arresting surface being configured to generally conform to a periphery of said closure member, thereby substantially preventing the same from frictionally contacting a peripheral wall of said valve cavity when urged to said open position thereof by fluid pressure. 
     
     
       2. A valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said arresting surface of said retaining means is constituted of a material which is softer than the material from which is formed said closure member. 
     
     
       3. A valve as defined in claim 2, wherein both said arresting surface and said closure member are made of steel, said arresting surface being made from a steel which is more malleable. 
     
     
       4. A valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said retaining means includes a retainer insert, and wherein said valve cavity includes an entry area through which said closure member may be selectively inserted or removed, said entry area including a tapered opening portion configured to restrict movements of said retainer insert towards said seat. 
     
     
       5. A valve as defined in claim 4, wherein said retaining means further include a retaining ring disposed in a groove defined in said entry area of said valve cavity for preventing said retaining insert from being expelled outside of said entry area. 
     
     
       6. A valve as defined in claim 4, wherein said closure member is a ball having a contour, and wherein said retainer insert has an annular configuration adapted to match said contour of said ball. 
     
     
       7. A valve for use with an engine comprising a valve body defining a flow path and a valve cavity including a seat upon which a closure member may rest for blocking an outlet port of said valve, a spacer insert positionable into an entry end of said valve cavity downstream from said seat for preventing said closure member from frictionally contacting said valve body when said closure member is displaced to an open position thereof, and retaining means for preventing withdrawal of said spacer insert from said valve cavity through said entry end. 
     
     
       8. A valve as defined in claim 7 wherein said entry end has a tapered opening portion configured to restrict movements of said spacer insert towards said seat, and wherein said closure member is configured and sized to be selectively inserted and removed from said valve cavity through said entry end. 
     
     
       9. A valve as defined in claim 8, wherein said retaining means include a retaining ring disposed in an annual groove defined in said entry end of said valve cavity for preventing said spacer insert from being expelled outside of said entry end. 
     
     
       10. A valve as defined in claim 9, wherein said closure member is a ball having a contour, and wherein said spacer insert has an annular configuration adapted to match said contour of said ball.